Top Architectural Sites: Dallas, Texas

Because of an oil boom in the 1980s, Dallas grew from a moderately-sized city to one filled with towering skyscrapers and huge plazas. Dallas is also surrounded by looping highways that make commuting to and from this bustling metropolis an easy task. However aside from those infrastructure elements, the city of Dallas is home to attention-grabbing design.

One of the city’s major urban development undertakings is actually its town hall. This triangular concrete monolith was built to represent the strength and stability of Dallas’ population, and was designed by famed architect I.M. Pei. Interestingly, this town hall was meant to improve the city’s image after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in nearby Dealey Plaza in 1963.

Pei also designed a number of other important Dallas buildings, including the impressive Fountain Place skyscraper.

The relatively newly-built West Village district has become a hot spot in Dallas. It features restaurants and cafes, as well as tree-lined streets that are perfect for a nice stroll. The West Village is served by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, or DART system, which includes a light rail system. Streetcars are one ingenious and neat way to travel through the city, whether you’re a visitor or a resident.

As Dallas is located on the Trinity River, the city features a number of practical and beautiful bridges, as well. The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge features a 40-storey arch that can be seen from miles around.

One important element of the Dallas skyline is the Reunion Tower. Notable for its shape, this observation tower opened in 1978, and at 561 feet high it is one of Dallas’ taller structures. The Reunion Tower is one of the most recognizable buildings on the skyline due to its spherical design, and this dome houses a 360 degree observation deck, as well as a revolving restaurant and a club. At night, this is another structure that stands out against the rest.

With towering buildings, unique architecture and even great nighttime scenes, Dallas is a great spot for lovers of design.